Holder for notebooks



Feb. 2 1951 H. D. SNELL HOLDER FOR NOTEBOOKS Filed Aug. 10, 1949 Hour) 0. Snell Patented F eb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,542,718 HOLDER FOR NOTEBOOKS Harrn D. Snell, Port Arthur, Tex. Application August 10, 1949, Serial No. 109,606 2 Claims. (01. 120-28) My invention relates to improvements in holders for notebooks of the tablet class such as are used by stenographers and typists.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed, inexpensive device for holding such notebooks uprighton a desk, or the like, at selected angles for easy reading ofthe notes thereon, in transcription work, and with the leaves turned over back of the notebook to expose a selected leaf for reading, and the turned leaves hanging pendant for quick easy grasping to turn forwardly for ready reference thereto.

Another object is to provide a device of the character and for the purpose above set forth which willnot tear the leaves of the notebook, and will not get out of order from prolonged use.

Other and subordinate objects, within the purview of my invention, together with the precise naturerof my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding descriptionJand claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved support in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a a larger scale;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring to the dr view in front elevation drawn to section taken on porting panel 2 is preferably of substantially the same width as the usual stenographic notebook 4, but slightly longer for a purpose presently seen.

The book supporting panel 2 is mounted at its lower end portion on the base panel I for tilting forwardly and rearwardly about an horizontal axis to variably incline the notebook 4 at selected angles to the vertical for convenient reading of the notes.

The mounting for the book supporting panel 2 com rises a rectangular metal plate the rock shafts I9 in said lu s for rocking 5, relatively smaller than the base panel I, secured on the base panel I by screws 6 in centered relation to said panel I, and having a bracket bar I extending across and suitably secured to the same, forwardly of the center of the base panel I, said bracket bar having upstanding end ears 8. A relatively smaller, rectangular metal back plate 9 is secured by screws I0 to the lower end portion of the book supporting panel 2 in the vertical center of said panel and with a bracket bar I I to the back projecting Bolts I 3,

thereof, said bar having rearwardly end ears I2 fitting between the ears 8.

" with wing nuts I4 thereon, pivotally connect the ears 8 and I2 in pairs for tilting of the book supporting panel 2, and for clamping said ears together in pairs to hold said panel 2 in selected tilt d position.

The notebook 4 is positioned on the porting panel 2 with the coverswung back over the upper edge of said panel 2 in pendant position so that the notebook 4 thus straddles said panel 2 and is suspended on said upper edge thereof.

Upper and lower pairs of forwardly projecting keeper ears I6. I1 on the sides of the book supporting panel 2 align the edges of the notebook 4 with the sides of said panel.

Side clamps I8 are provided on the book supporting panel 2 to hold down the pages to which the notebook 4 has been turned and clamp said notebook to said panel 2.

The side clamps I8 comprise a pair of rock shafts I9, preferably formed of a commercial plastic, and which extend along the sides of and are arranged in the plane of the book supporting panel 2 and fit between upper and lower side lugs 20, 2I on said panel 2. End pins 22 in the rock shafts I9 journalled in the lugs 20. 2| mount movement. U per and lower, skeleton wire clamping fingers 23, 24 extend laterally, inwardly, from the rock shafts I9 to be swung by rocking of said shafts I9 in opposite directions into and from overlying clamping relation to the notebook 4 has been turned.

The rock shafts I9 are rocked by the following book sup- I5 opened and ing rearwardly through said panel 2. The finger grip wing member 26 lies below the notebook 4, also the stud 26, and said stud extends through the bracket bar H with a rocker bar 21 fixed at its center thereon in the rear of the bracket bar H and with a central lateral crank arm 28 on the same. A pair of links 29 in the rear of the bracket bar H are pivoted at corresponding ends thereof, as at 30, to opposite ends of the rocker bar 21 and extend oppositely therefrom behind the book supporting panel 2 with the other ends thereof pivoted, by pins 3i between pairs of lateral rear ears 32 on said rock shafts [9. A helical spring '33 is connected at one end, as at 34, to the crank arm 28 and at its other end to one end of the bracket bar H and tends to rock the rocker bar 21 in a direction such that the links 29 thrust against the pins 3i and rock the rock shafts IS in a direction to swing the clamping fingers 23, the notebook 4. By rotating the finger grip wing member 25 in the proper direction, the rocker bar 26 will be rocked bythe stud 26 to pull on the links 29 andpins' 3| and rock the rock shafts 19 in the proper direction to swing the clamping fingers 23, 24 out of clamping relationand away from the notebook 4 sufficiently to permit free turning of leaves thereof, in a-manner which will be clear. 7

As will be understood, the notebook 4 is positioned on the book supporting panel 2 with the clamping fingers 23, 24 swung out of clamping position and the said fingers are so swing before the leaves of the notebook 4 are turned.

It will be notedthat-the .described mounting for the book supporting panel 2, together with the rocker bar 21, links 29 and spring 33 are all disposed in the rear of said panel 2 and hidden from view from the front of the support, while, at the same time, the side clamps 18 may be operated to swing the clamping fingers 23, 24 out of clamping relation by the finger grip wing member 25 which is conveniently'located at the front of the booksupporting panel'2.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described is susceptible of modification, without departing from 24 into clamping engagement with ill extending through- 4 the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Clamping means for supporting a notebook comprising a rectangular clamping panel having a front face and a pair of lugs extending from opposite side edges thereof, a pair of rock shafts extending along said side edges of the panel and arranged in the plane thereof with ends fitted between the pairs of lugs and journaled therein, resilient clamping fingers on said shafts for swinging into and out of clamping coaction with said front face upon rocking of said shafts in opposite *directions, respectively, a rotary stud said panel adjacent one end thereof, a spring tensioned rocker bar fixed intermediate its ends on said stud behind said panel for rocking in one direction in opposition to said spring'by rotation of said stud, connections betweenthe rock shafts and the ends of said bar for rocking said shafts to swing said fingers out of clamping relation upon rocking of said arm in said direction, and a manipulative member on said stud in front of said panel for rotating said stud. I

2. Clamping means according to claim 1 wherein said connections include a pair of links having ends pivotally connected to the ends of said bar, said links-being pivoted to said rock shafts respectively.

HARM D. SNELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 793,978 B'eidler July 4, 1905 1,483,421 Farnham Feb. 12, 1924 1,568,425 Smith Jan. 5, 1926 2,301,692 Forca Nov. 1 0, 1942 

